Indian American doctor thanks US, Afghan rescuers

December 22, 2012 10:15 IST

Indian-American doctor Dilip Joseph, who was rescued from Taliban's captivity in a daring operation in Afghanistan has thanked the US and Afghan forces for saving his life, after the physician returned home in Colorado.

"I would like to take this moment to thank the US and Afghan forces for putting their lives on the line to rescue me," Joseph said in a statement.

"I can appreciate the difficulty of this particular operation and deeply value the sacrifice of one of their own servicemen for the success of this mission. My heart goes out to the family of the fallen hero for his service, commitment and courage. He will remain a legacy for me and my family for generations to come," he said.

"I have been travelling to Afghanistan for the past several years in the hope of making a difference for this country and her people. I still hold Afghanistan in great regard and will continue to pray and hope for its' peace and long-term stability," Joseph said in the statement released through his employer, Morning Star Development.

A Colorado-based non-profit

organization, Morning Star Development said they have been invited to the funeral of Sailor Nicolas Checque, who lost his life in the rescue operation.

"We

appreciated the opportunity to meet with them and also with his military commander. Our desire is to continue to support the family of Officer Checque in any way that we can and to look for ways to honour his name and his service," the statement said.

Joseph, who oversees the organizations medical clinics in Afghanistan, teaching and preparing the local doctors and midwives in their work, was kidnapped by the Taliban on December 5

along with two other members of the Morning Star.

The other two members were released by their captors following hours of negotiations conducted over three days.

"The three staff members were abducted while returning from a visit to one of our rural medical clinics in eastern Kabul Province. They were stopped and captured while driving, by a group of armed men. They were eventually taken to a mountainous area about 50 miles from the Pakistan border," Morning Star Development executive director, Lars Peterson, said.